Parks and Recreation programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $16,478 to $73,106, demonstrating significant variation across 507 programs. The median earnings of $43,348 reflect diverse pathways in recreation management and outdoor careers, where program selection directly impacts long-term earning potential.
Leading the list is University of Scranton, achieving the highest program earnings at $73,106. The top tier includes Pepperdine University ($72,554) and Saint Louis University ($72,217), with these programs demonstrating how quality recreation management education translates into strong graduate outcomes that exceed typical expectations for the field.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #101 | University Of UtahPublic | Salt Lake City, UT | $50,897 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $10,447 | 87.2% | 63.9% |
| #102 | San Francisco, CA | $50,832 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $9,307 | 96.2% | 50.1% | |
| #103 | Edwardsville, IL | $50,586 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $7,459 | 97.2% | 55.0% | |
| #104 | Indianapolis, IN | $50,577 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $5,748 | 81.4% | 53.9% | |
| #105 | Otterbein UniversityPrivate | Westerville, OH | $50,571 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $16,326 | 83.3% | 69.0% |
| #106 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | Oxford, OH | $50,514 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $14,775 | 82.1% | 81.8% |
| #107 | Pomona, CA | $50,462 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $7,599 | 73.7% | 66.7% | |
| #108 | Albion CollegePrivate | Albion, MI | $50,458 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $11,241 | 83.2% | 57.1% |
| #109 | Edmond, OK | $50,458 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $19,109 | 97.1% | 55.2% | |
| #110 | Mount St. Mary's UniversityPrivate | Emmitsburg, MD | $50,439 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $14,674 | 71.9% | 58.0% |
| #111 | Farmingdale, NY | $50,423 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $3,865 | 69.1% | 57.1% | |
| #112 | Westmont CollegePrivate | Santa Barbara, CA | $50,319 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $24,220 | 79.9% | 70.1% |
| #113 | Odessa, TX | $50,300 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $7,684 | 84.5% | 43.0% | |
| #114 | Concordia University-ChicagoPrivate | River Forest, IL | $50,212 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $13,573 | 93.4% | 47.4% |
| #115 | Carrollton, GA | $50,197 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $12,779 | 49.4% | 42.7% | |
| #116 | Knoxville, TN | $50,183 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $9,397 | 46.0% | 73.5% | |
| #117 | Pacific UniversityPrivate | Forest Grove, OR | $50,162 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $22,238 | 91.8% | 64.8% |
| #118 | Plymouth, NH | $50,018 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $14,051 | 91.0% | 47.4% | |
| #119 | University Of IndianapolisPrivate | Indianapolis, IN | $49,930 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $14,352 | 72.8% | 55.8% |
| #120 | Buckhannon, WV | $49,842 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $12,553 | 95.0% | 49.5% |
